May 31, 2013

Special Olympics Chairman & CEO Timothy Shriver provided a keynote address at the 5th UNESCO World-Sport-Ministers Conference. He shared the impact the Special Olympics Movement is having throughout the world, especially in developing nations.

For Immediate Release

Berlin, Germany -- Special
Olympics Chairman & CEO Timothy Shriver provided a keynote
address at this week's 5th UNESCO
World-Sport-Ministers Conference (MINEPS V). He joined German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of the International Olympic
Committee Jacques Rogge, Chairman of the International Paralympics
Committee Sir Phil Craven, and Director-General of UNESCO Irina
Bokova at the Opening Session of the conference. One goal of the
conference was to establish the 'Declaration of Berlin', which, as
one of three key areas, also included Sport as a Fundamental Right
for All.

During his keynote address, Shriver shared the impact the
Special Olympics Movement is having throughout the world,
especially in developing nations. Serving the largest disability
population in the world, Special Olympics has been influencing
policy for people with intellectual disabilities through sports,
but also addressing health, education and community building needs
throughout the world.

"This week's UNICEF
State of the World's Children report chronicles an epidemic of
discrimination against children with all disabilities and in most
cases the most severe discrimination is against children with
intellectual disabilities," shared Shriver during his address. "We
cannot talk about equality. We cannot pretend to project the idea
of equality in large stadiums and large conferences. The hard work
of equality will come when we commit to a citizen level
infrastructure, serious political enterprise, and partnerships with
the private sector to reach the most vulnerable children and
adults. Otherwise, our words are meaningless."

Special Olympics is raising the awareness around serious issues
facing people with intellectual disabilities and addressing them
head on through sports, health, education and community building
programs in more than 170 countries around the world. Earlier this
year, world leaders from government, business, education, economic
and social development, media and civil society convened in
PyeongChang, Republic of Korea at the Special Olympics Global
Development Summit on Ending the Cycle of Poverty and Exclusion
for People with Intellectual Disabilities. This Summit, the
first of its kind focusing solely on people with intellectual
disabilities, examined the urgent needs of the largest disability
population throughout the world and took place as part of the
world's largest sports and humanitarian event, Special Olympics World Winter
Games PyeongChang 2013 and was co-hosted by Special
Olympics and the Special Olympics World Winter Games Organizing
Committee PyeongChang 2013. Attendees included Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, MP, Chairperson, National League for Democracy, Burma
(Myanmar), Her Excellency Joyce Banda, President of Malawi, Senator
and Vice Minister Jan McLucas, Government of Australia, The
Honorable Wilfried Lemke, Special Envoy, the United Nations Office
on Sport for Development and Peace, Mr. Muhtar Kent, Chairman and
CEO, The Coca-Cola Company, and NBA Legend Mr. Dikembe Mutumbo,

During his time in Berlin, Shriver also met with First Lady of
Germany Daniela Schadt to thank her for her new patronage of
Special Olympics Germany.

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes
lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering
people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for
all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect
worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special
Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more
than four million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of
the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic
competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now take
place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities all over the world, from community playgrounds and
ball fields in every small neighborhood's backyard to World Games.
Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities
continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop
physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and
friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.
Engage with us on: Twitter
@specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics;
youtube.com/specialolympicshq,
and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.